Lack of data on Londoners ‘harming investment’

Monday 1 February 2010 12:45 BST

Leading British businesses today warned that their investment in London is being hampered by poor data on the capital's population.

The Demographics User Group — which represents Barclays, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Boots, the Co-operative Group, E.ON, The Children's Mutual and Whitbread — told MPs that more detailed and extensive information is needed on who is living in London.

It said that London is "another country" compared to the rest of Britain's population, with half a million people believed to be living illegally or clandestinely in the capital.

Town halls have already complained that out-of-date data, from the 2001 census, means they are being short-changed by the Government's allocation of funds for schools, health and other services.

But DUG director Keith Dugmore told the first public hearing by the new Commons London committee: "It is sometimes not appreciated that many thousands of commercial companies also use population statistics when making vital business decisions. Faced with the worst recession for 50 years, businesses need reliable information."